Doud replied that China has been a bad actor in trade deals with the US.

“They need to change their behavior. And this is going on with more things that just agriculture. And this administration the president has said we need to do something about this.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more. I don’t need a lecture on that. That is my view. But it would seem to me that provoking a trade war with Mexico, Canada and the EU when the issue fundamentally is with China, and when the growth for all of our farmers and ranchers in the west is going to come from the Pacific Rim, seems insane.”

Doud said the US is pursuing markets in Latin America and Asia to offset the loss of the ag export market in China, formerly the No. 1 market. So far no deals have been reached.

Senior U.S. officials reportedly have offered to hold another round of talks with China. Senators of both parties called for the US’s re-entry to the Trans Pacific Partnership.